Acustimulation for the Control of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea in Breast Cancer Patients
Abstract
The current experiment examined the efficacy of acustimulation (mild electrical stimulation to an acupuncture point) to the Neiguan (P6) acupuncture point (located on the ventral surface of the wrist) in controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (NV). In traditional Chinese medicine, this acupuncture point is associated with NV relief. It was a randomized three-arm clinical trial testing the usefulness of an acustimulation wrist band for the relief of chemotherapy- induced nausea and vomiting as an adjunct to standard 5-HT3 antiemetics. Patients who experienced nausea at their first treatment were eligible to participate. Patients in the two treatment groups (i.e., correct location: band worn on the inside of the wrist and sham location: band worn on the outside of the wrist) put on the acustimulation wrist band prior to the administration of chemotherapy and wore it for up to five days. The use of an active acustimulation band in the sham condition was intended to control for both the placebo effect and for any effect due to the release of endorphins, thereby allowing for a direct examination of the efficacy of stimulation to the (P6) acupuncture point. In addition, the experiment had a "no band" condition for additional comparisons.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA420482
Entities
People
- Gary R. Marrow
- Joseph A. Roscoe
- Peter Bushunow
Organizations
- University of Rochester